| Posted: Jan. 06 2005,10:20 |
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PROGRESS: Has your organization seen
progress toward a culture of peace and nonviolence in your domain of
action and in your constituency during the first half of the Decade? |
This
project was birthed as a result of a meeting that came from devastation
and emotion to compassion and determination between the Akwesasne
Mohawak representatives of the International Children's Environmental
Health Network and The Art Miles Mural Project. On September 11, 2001
as the tragedy began to unfold in New York, Pennsylvania and
Washington, DC, The Grand Chief and Program Director for
Wholistic Health and Wellness Program of Akwesase Mohawak Territories,
Dr. Lee Thomas from the Akwesasne Mohawk Territories in Quebec, were in
a workshop with The Art Miles Mural Project co-founders when they were
interupted and asked to gather in the plenary room. Horrific
scenes were on tv, as people were jumping out of the twin towers.
Dr. Thomas, Joanne Tawfilis and Dr. Fouad Tawfilis found
themselves consoling one another and after a lengthy session they began
discussing the absolute need to stop the spiraling world violence and
agreeing that it should begin with children. Further, Lee
Thomas continued to share the philosopies of the 4 directions and that
according to Mohawk's beliefs People must strive for Kken:nen, Peace,
Ka'nikonhrir:io, A good mind, and Ka'shatstensera, Strength. She
shared that among Indigenous Peoples everywhere, tha there is the
agreement that the history of Indigenous Peoples of the World have in
their respective histories, the teachings of Peace. It was here that
the resolve was made to organize the first ever INDIGENOUS YOUTH Peace
Summit under the official project of the Art Miles Mural Project,
giving the proposed event a shared official standing as a UNESCO Decade
of the Culture of Peace project.
The entire organization and
planning for this conference and the legacy of constructing and
establishing A PEACE VILLAGE in the territories has been completely
absorbed and seeded through the incredible collaboration among tribes
and tribal leaders and members in the multi Indigenous Northeast
Region. The leadership of the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne in
Quebec, continue their planning and fund raising efforts with the
leadership of Dr. Thomas and support from the World Center for Strategy
and Policy/Art Miles Mural Project. This is a spin off and stand
alone project involving the planned participation of several thousand
youth who will come together from August 14-18, 2006. The theme
of the Summit is "In the Spirit of Peace: Opportunities and Challenges
of Youth for World Peace"
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OBSTACLES: What are the most important obstacles that have prevented progress?
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Although
the conference is considered a sub project of the Art Miles Mural
Project and thus part of the Decade of the Culture of Peace for Non
Violence Among Children of the World, obtaining official letters of
interest and support from individual UNESCO leaders continues to be a
problem as letters and phone calls go unanswered because the issue
continues to be pushed to "another person in charge". No one
wants to take responsiblity for this in the UNESCO heirarchy.
Funding
then becomes a problem because without a "charter", local tribal
nations/territories, Canadian government and other prospective funding
sources may not see this as an official event. Although the
Mohawk Council would like to see some financial support, they have on
their own, raised a small amount of seed money. The role of the
Art Miles Mural Project will be to raise funds as a result of the
completion of the Indigenous Mural Mile, write grants and obtain
sponsors and to organize income generation Decade events such as
concerts, performances and other activities.
Lack of an individual official of UNESCO point of contact.
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ACTIONS: What actions have been
undertaken by your organization to promote a culture of peace and
nonviolence during the first half of the Decade?
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The
first action to promote the culture of peace in the first half of the
Decade was to initiate the idea and gain the support of the entire
tribal territory in Quebec. This effort was successfully
completed, with a special interest because it was these very tribal
people who helped build the World Trade Center, and the tribal elders
speak of a prophecy that since they are the home of the Peace Maker, it
is in their legacy and has been prophesized that the Peace Maker shall
walk again in this Decade.
The tribal chiefs and councils organized
and presented an official "Announcement and Launching" of the effort in
the territories, informing and gaining support of aborginal and
non-aboriginal youth, elders, child and youth institutions, federal and
provincial governments, associations and advocacy groups and the
academic community in and around the territories.
The Art Miles Mural Project visited the territories and met with tribal chiefs and the Grand Chief, Angie Barnes
A temporary staff was established and funding obtained, with the Coordinator position and office assistant
The Conference Plan and Peace Village Concept has been coordinated, reviewed and is now published.
Funding efforts have begun and a Fund Raising Plan from Art Miles is in development.
A more specific collaborative funding mechanism will be in place shortly.
Representative
tribal Chiefs and members participated in and attended a September 11,
2002 Art Miles event at Columbia University, with a ceremonial
Indigenous opening with Peace Ambassador Joseph Ruben Silverbird.
An art exhibition is being organized by Akwesasne Artists for a traveling show between now and the conference.
Tribal Nations around the world have begun to contact the organization requesting involvement and information.
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Here is the poster for the summit:
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ADVICE: What advice would you like to
give to the Secretary-General and the General Assembly to promote a
culture of peace and nonviolence during the second half of the Decade? |
If
you are not in the UN political heirarchy, it is difficult to obtain
access to a real person. If the UN is to take this seriously,
then a permanent staff person should be assigned.
The Secretary
General is a great and good man, and could advise some of his
leadership to do some outreach and speak with, and LISTEN to some of
the ancient ways of healing, management, environmental care, respect,
honor and spirituality.
It would be welcome if the Secretary General
could have someone appointed to be the Honorary Grand Co-Chair of this
conference.
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PARTNERSHIPS: What partnerships and
networks does your organization participate in, thus strengthening the
global movement for a culture of peace? |
The Art Miles Mural Project (more to follow)
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PLANS: What new engagements are
planned by your organization to promote a culture of peace and
nonviolence in the second half of the Decade (2005-2010)? |
To organize a series of events leading up to the Conference
To seek and obtain support to build the Peace Village in the Akwesasne Mohawk Territories
To
develop a resolution that the Youth Village for Peace will be launched
in suppoort of the Nobel Peace Laureates "Appeal for Children of the
World" and as the Peace Capital of the World for the Next 100 Years or
7 generations as foretold in legend
The Youth Village for Peace has
the potential of being a resource that will extend continuing education
oportunities in the areas of peace studies, Indigenous History,
environmental education, wilderness survival, mutlitcultural and
expressive arts and global peace education.
The Youth Village for
Peace will provide a fully integrated curriculum which will prepare
Youth and Adults for democratic participation in a global society.
The
Youth Village for Peace will sponsor ongoing Peace events and provide
the entire community with tools that facilitate concepts of stewardship
of the natural world, participation in the community as a peacemaker,
and the dissemination of Peace centered concepts.
The Youth Village
for Peace will also house the UNESCO Gallery with the donated
exhibition of the Indigenous Peoples Mural Mile
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Postal address of organization
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United Nations Youth Peace Summit
Mohawk Council of Akwesasne
Box 90, Akwesasne, Quebec, Canada HOM IAO
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E-mail address of organization
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Jen
Johnson jjohnson@akwesasne.ca, Leona Barnes lbarnes@akwesasne.ca,
Louise McDonald lmcdonald@akwesasne.ca, Lee Thomas
lthomas@akwesasne.ca, Joanne Tawfilis JTawfilis@aol.com,
Mark Princevalle, AdmiralBosk@aol.com
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Website address of organization
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http://www.the-art-miles-mural-project.org
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Highest priority action domain of a culture of peace
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Education for a culture of peace
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Second priority action domain of a culture of peace
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Highest priority country of action (or international)
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International
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Second priority country of action (or international)
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